There was a news story a couple years back in The Associated Press about a novel experiment by the University of Minnesota to foil Christmas tree thieves. It seems that the year before the university lost seven evergreens to poachers. So the university began spraying balsam fir, Scotch pine and anything that could pass for a holiday tree with skunk scent. Yes, I said skunk scent. For years, according to this report, Christmas tree thieves have been sawing down trees in the middle of the night. But in 2002 they lopped the tops off 18-foot trees that were more than 20 years old. The trees probably are permanently disfigured. So the university decided to take action. So, why skunk? “Can you think of something worse? “ asked grounds superintendent Les Potts. Cold weather masks the smell. But w…